Wednesday, April 27, 2016

BLOOMINGTON CIVIC THEATER EXPERIENCE

IMMIGRANT’S STORY — “sun crying”

Bloomington civic theater cast member discussed Jewish culture, immigrants, oppression and hope during the audience talk back session after today’s performance of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Few musicals stir up such emotion as this venerable classic and one audience member bore witness that this production was equal to the Broadway debut that he saw 51 years ago.

Director/choreographer Michael Gruber provided the cast with background on the pograms in Eastern Europe in the early 1900s and this was helpful.

“Fiddler” remains relevant in light of today’s report from the New York Times that Pope Francis received drawings from Syrian children in a refugee camp — one showing children drowning in the sea and another depicting the sun crying.

(John Paul Gamoke makes you believe that he is Tevye.)

MUSIC THEATER TRADITION, MINNESOTA STYLE

With acclaimed programs in music theater at Mankato State University and U of M Duluth it’s a small wonder why we have a wealth of talented young performers in the Twin Cities and beyond. Mentorship of young performers learning from professionals is one of the byproducts of Bloomington Artistry’s civic theater efforts, we learned Tuesday at the U of M OLLI class at Bloomington Arts Center.

It’s a two-way street, explained Equity actor John Gamoke, with the professional actor learning from the newbies. Anita Ruth for the past several years has conducted these informative classes on music theater and it’s time well spent in the lifetime learning program.